BAR RAID IN S.L. COUNTY NETS 3 BETTING DEVICES AND CASH

A raid on a private club by Salt Lake County sheriff deputies netted three gambling machines and an undisclosed amount of cash Friday night.

Vice Sgt. Jay Labrum, who headed the investigation leading to the raid, said the Granite Club, 3820 S. Highland Dr., had been under investigation for two years. He said undercover police had a difficult time penetrating club membership and that the evidence was acquired only in the past six months.It was the third major raid by the sheriff's department this year involving gambling machines. Earlier this year machines were confiscated from Plaza Billiards in West Valley City and from the Valley Lounge in Kearns. Labrum said five bars were also targeted in a small raid in January that netted a number of the illegal games.

The devices seized Friday included two video poker games and one video keno game. Money that police say was earmarked for payoffs was also confiscated.

No arrests were made. He said deputies expect to complete the investigation over the weekend and make a determination on arrests at that time.

Meanwhile, owners of the club will have five days to petition the county commission for a hearing on the status of the club's business license. The club's beer and liquor consumption licenses were seized as part of the raid and the club will not be able to serve liquor pending the outcome of a hearing.

At the hearing, the club owners can request restoration of their beer license, Labrum said. He said the commission has customarily invoked a 15-day closure order on businesses involved in such raids. Following the county hearing, the state Liquor Control Commission will likely hold a hearing to determine the future status of the club's mini-bottle license.